UN General Assembly Adopts New Map Resolution to Correct Africa's True Scale

People stand beside a sculpture of the African continent at the Place du Souvenir Africain in Dakar, Senegal on September 3, 2026.

The United Nations has voted to adopt a new world map designed to more accurately reflect the true sizes of countries, following a resolution sponsored by African nations aiming to rectify a centuries-old cartographic discrepancy.

Passed by the UN General Assembly on Friday, the “Correct the Map” resolution seeks to address a colonial-era legacy that has visually diminished Africa for 450 years, influencing global perceptions across media, education, and policymaking.

Put forward by African Union (AU) member states alongside the Bahamas, the resolution secured a 164-1 vote with six abstentions. Togo spearheaded the AU initiative to curb reliance on the traditional Mercator map.

Created in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, the projection distorts landmass proportions by enlarging regions closer to the poles. For example, the projection depicts Greenland as roughly equal in size to Africa, even though Africa is approximately 14 times larger.

Critics argue the Mercator map endures because it visually emphasizes and centralizes Western nations, reinforcing notions of European superiority. Ahead of the vote, Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told the Reuters news agency, “A fair world begins with a fair map.”

The newly adopted resolution champions the Equal Earth projection for a more realistic depiction of continental dimensions. While non-binding, the resolution explicitly states it does not restrict the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, where it remains fully appropriate, according to the Togolese ministry.

The United States stood as the sole opponent to the resolution, characterizing it as an “ideological agenda” that distracts from core issues of international peace, prosperity, and diplomacy.

Moky Makura, executive director of the advocacy group Africa No Filter, which participates in the “Correct the World” map campaign, welcomed the decision and stated that the primary work is only just beginning. She emphasized the desire to see accurate maps integrated into schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses, and digital platforms worldwide.

Before the vote, France announced its intention to move away from the Mercator map. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated at the Sorbonne University in Paris that the foreign ministry will transition to map representations better suited for specific applications and faithful to actual surface areas.

Barrot pointed out that traditional projections give disproportionate visual prominence to the United States, Russia, and China compared to Africa, Latin America, and southeast Asia, noting that such distortions eventually shape public perceptions.

Togo aims to update its school geography materials by the end of the year and plans to encourage other governments, educational institutions, international organizations, and technology companies to adopt the Equal Earth projection. Dussey framed the initiative as part of broader African efforts to address colonial-era legacies rather than an opposition to Europe or other civilizations.